Apparatus for testing oil wells



Reissued Apr. 5, 1938" ing wells, such as oil wells, and refers-particularly to the type of apparatus for testing wells, in which a single string of pipe islowered into the oil wellcarrying a packer which may be set in the bottom of the well, and carrying also a valve which may be opened and closed by manipulation of the pipe from the top of the well.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type mentioned, so constructed that the valve or valves controlled in communication with the string of pipe may be operated by vertical motion of the string of pipe and at the same time so construct the apparatus that the weight of the pipe may be used for setting the packer firmly in position desired.

1 Another object of the pruent invention is to provide an apparatus for testing oil wells, which is provided with valves controlled by a vertical motion of the pipe and yet may be locked by motion of the pipe in an open position and removed irom the well hole.

provide an apparatus for testing oil wells in which the operation of the valves is controlled by a vertical motion of the pipe and in which the flush' shoulder seat of non-yielding character for receiving the weight of the apparatus and force necessary to remove the same from the well hole.

A further which will permit a very accurate control over the opening of the valves so as to avoid any sudden release of pressure on the formation to be tested, and further to without the valves being opened, except when.

A further object of the present invention is to construction of theapparatus provides a strong object of the present invention is to provide a well tester with a valve arrangementprovide an arrangement of valves which will not be cut in testing wells UNITED STATES PATIENT OF FlCE APPARATUS Foams-rum on. WELLS Erie P. l-Ialliburton, Los 'Angeles, Calif., assignor to Halliburton Oil Well cementing (20., Duncan, 0kla., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,092,062, dated September '1, 1937,

Serial No. 141,780, August tion for reissue November 28, 1934. Applica- 26, 1937, Serial No.

9 Claims. (Cl.-166-1) This invention relates'to ail-apparatus for testsired to close the apparatus and withdraw the same'i'rom the well hole.

Various further objects and advantages of ,the apparatus for testing wells constituting the present invention will be apparent from a description of a preferred formor example of such apparatus,

- as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: Y Figure 1 is avertical elevation showing the ap paratus in position in a well hole and equipped with the rat hole type of packer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partially in ver-- tical section, of the apparatus with the packer :fmoved and the valve shown in the open posilustrated as comprising a mandrel 2, having a? threaded stem 3 at its upper end for attachment to a string of pipe I, as by a collar 5. In practice, the string of pipe I extends to the surface of the we v,eing tested and may be made up of any iii-1f hints of pipe.

The mandrel 2 is provided with a bore 6 for the passage of fluid therethrough in testing. operations and is reduced in diameter, as indicated at I, to receive packing, and at its lower end is further reduced and threaded, as indicated at 8. It is also provided with a' port 9 for discharge of any fluid which may have leaked by .the packing of the tool. To the threaded lower end 8 of the mandrel is threaded a piston all] which has a re-' duced portion to receive packing rings ll.

The mandrel 2 is provided with one or more pins l2, which operate in J-slots I! cut in a sleeve II. The sleeve II is a portion of the main body of the apparatus. The J-slot I3 is provided with one vertical portion 15, in which the pins I! may move which limit the motion' of the mandrel 2 relative to the body so as to prevent the mandrel while in this portion of the slot opening the valves. 'I'he'slot has a further diagonally slanting portion l8 leading to a vertical section v i 15- Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the valve in a closedposition.

n, which extends a suflicient depth so that .the

- against the mandrel threaded to the lower end of;

mandrel. when the pins are lowered into this portion of the slot, may operate the valves. The .I-slothas a further portion il in which 'the'pins i2 may be set for locking the apparatus. in the open position.

'end with a ring or vided. with pressure rel asing ports 2| for releasing fluid under the shoulder '1 of the man- The sleeve i4 is also provided with an internal flange 22 for holding rings 23 of a packing v 2 and with a packing followerv internally said sleeve. 3

In practice, the follower 24 is set flush with the lower end of the sleeve l4, and it is the lower end of the sleeve I4 and the follower 24 which provide a square seat for receiving the lifting strain from the plunger i0 attached to the mandrel 2. By this construction the apparatus is provided with a firm strong non-yielding seat for application of the lifting strain to the of the tool when it is desired to withdraw the apparatus from the well-hole. This construction is found to obviate thedifilculties frequently ex- 80 perienced with other types of tools where the 40 lifting such plunger seats 34 and 35,

imposed upon a yielding lifting strain has been I frequently has resulted or. resilient heat, which in the tool parting.

may enter so asto apply the hydrostatic head of such fluid under the plunger Ill and facilitate upwardly when it is desired Said pressure chamber, which ,is closed at its lower end by is a portion of the body of to close the valves. is indicated at 29, a nipple 21 which the tool and which 7 and from the pressure chamber 26. The mandrel 2 is threaded at its lower end to a tube 29 to which is threaded a nut 33. The tube 29 extends through the pressure chamber 26 and nipple 21 to provide-a passage for fluid being tested. Below the nipple 21 the tube 29 is provided with a head 3i having fluid passages 32. I

The body of the tester includes a further sleeve portion 32 threaded to the lower end of the nipthreaded to seats 34 and 35, respectively, of valves 36 and 31, respectively.

The valves 36 and 31 each includes a valve head '33 engaging a tapered shoulder on the respectively, which valve head is-mounted upon'rod 39 having contact head 49 at its upper end. Spring 4| yieldingly urges the valve to the closed position.

-Within the nipple 21 there is provided packing 42, held in position by follower 43 to prevent leakage of fluid from the pressure chamber 26. The lower sleeve 33 of the body is threaded at its lower end, as indicated at 45, for attachment to a perforated tube 41 is employed, cases a wall packer 48 having a perforated tube, such as 49 may be used. I

In operation of the apparatus thus described,

there is attached to a string of drill pipe 4 either head 49 of the valve preferred manner, 46 is'em'ployed this diagonal slot considered a part thereof,

is provided with the ports 28.

chamber 44 into the .the packer 43 or to its lower end.

The mandrel 2 is set in a positlon where its pins I2 are in the vertical portion I! of the J-slot in the body. In tion, the end of the'slot prohibits the head 3| being lowered a sufllcient distance to strike the valves 31 and 36 are hence empty of fluid. The

hole, where, in case the side wall packer 48 is used, this packer is set into sealing engagement with the sides of the well hole in any usual or or where the rat hole packer packer is forced into the top of the rat hole, as indicated in Figure 1. Any desired amount of pressure from the pipe 4 may be employed in so operating the valves to secure a firm seal without the valves 36 or 31 being opened and without permitting any fluid to enter the drill pipe 4. The operation of seating the packer. prevents the fluid mud which fills the wellaround the outside of the apparatus from entering the apparatus when the valves 36 and 31 are opened, and at the-same time cuts the hydrostatic pressure of this fluid mud from the formation so that the fluids in the formation may enter the inlet pipes and into the apparatus and to the drill pipe 4 whenever the valves are open.

After the packer has been set, the pipe 4 and mandrel 2 are raised slightly and turned to cause thepins i2 onmandrel 2 to pass through the i9 into the second vertical portion. The pipe 4 and mandrel 2 are then lowered to vertical portion IT of the J-slot until the head 3!, mounted on the tube 29, which is connected with the mandrel tube and, therefore, may be the valve 36. Further lowering of the pipe causes this valve to open, which in turn strikes the head on the lower valve and causes the lower valve to open.

It will be noted that the lower valve opens-m. I

slightly afterthe upper valve has opened. This, it has been discovere a gradual opening of the apparatus and very high pressure, and if this pressure is suddenly released by a sudden opening of the valves into an empty chamber, both the valves may be in part out out and the formation may be caused to collapse.

The apparatus is left in the open position for 7' a suflicient period of time to make a test, which 4a, with an inlet tubeattachedthis posi- I 33. Both valves 36 and 31' are hence in the closed position, and the drill pipe 4 and its communicating ports above the head 23 covering the upper apparatus is lowered into the bottom of the well v lower mandrel 2 while pins I2 pass down the:

strikes the head 40 on is important in securing].

In such cases, were it not for the use of the pressure chamber 26, the packer might be pulled away from its seat without the valves 36 or 31 being closed. v

In certain cases, it may happen that the packer either slips upon its seat or fails to'hold, inwhich case the mud fluid in the well will succeed in entering the apparatus. This is almost always observable to the operator at the top of the well and it is then his desire towithdraw the apparatus empty, For this purpose, the apparatus may be locked in the open position by turning the apparatus so as to position the pins I! of the mandrel in the notch 18 of the slots, whereupon the entire apparatus may be elevated to the top of the well and the valves 36 and 31 will be held in theopen position.

While the particular form of the apparatus herein described is well adapted to carry out the objects ofthe invention, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be .made without departing from the scope of, the

invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1, An apparatus for testing a well hole, when attached to a of pipe, including a body having means at'its lower end for attachment with a packer, a mandrel reciprocally mounted within the body and having means at its upper nected to a packer and a string of pipe, said apparatus comprising a body carrying a plurality of vertically spaced apart valves, one adapted-to be opened by engagement with the other, a mandrel adapted to reciprocate within said body and in a lower. position engage the upper valve to open the sane, and a pin and slot connection between the mandrel and body operative in one position to prevent the lowering of the mandrel relative to the body sufiiciently to open the valves and in another position to permit the mandrel to be lowered sufficiently to engage said valves.

3. An apparatus to be used in testing wells connected to a packer and a string of pipe, said apparatus comprising a body carrying a plurality of vertically spaced apart valves, one adapted to be opened by engagement with the other, a mandrel adapted to reciprocate within said body and in a lower position engage the upper valve to open the same, and a pin and slot connection between the mandrel and body operative in one position to another position to permit the mandrel to be lowered sufilciently to engage said valves, said pin and slot connection including a portion for lock- .ing the mandrel and body in position for maintaining the valves open.

4. An apparatus to be attached to a-packer and string of pipe for testing a well, said apparatus including a body for carrying valves, valves carried by said body, a mandrel reciprocally mounted within said body and adapted to engage said valves for opening the same, and means forming for permitting the hydrostatic head of fluid with- I in the well to assist in elevating the mandrel with respect to the body,

5. An apparatus for testing oil wells when connected with a packer and string ofpipe, said apparatus comprising a body including an upper sleeve, alower sleeve and a nipple interconnecting said sleeves, a valve carried by said lower sleeve of said body, a mandrel positioned to reciprocate within said body and extending through said nipple so as to be in position for contacting and operating said .valve, ports connecting the upper sleeve of said body with the exterior whereby said upper sleeve may operate as a pressure chamber for vertically moving said mandrel.

6. An apparatus for testing oil wells when connected with a packer and string of pipe, said apparatus comprising a body including an uppersleeve, a lower sleeve and a nipple interconnecting said sleeves, avalve carried by said lower sleeve of said body, a mandrel positioned to reciprocate ,Within said body and extending through said nipple so as to be in position .for contacting and operating said valve, ports connecting the upper sleeve of said body with the exterior whereby said upper sleeve may operate as a pressure chamber for vertically moving said mandrel, and a pin and slot connecting means between said body and 1 mandrel having a portion adapted on one relative position of the mandrel and body to prohibit the mandrel being lowered suiliciently to open said valves, and having a further portion adapted to.

permit the mandrel to be lowered relative to the body suilicient to open the valves.

7. An apparatus for testing oil Wells when connected with a packer and string of pipe, said apparatus comprising'a body including an upper sleeve, a lower sleeve and a nipple interconnecting said sleeves, a valve carried by said lower sleeve of said body, a mandrel positioned to reciprocate within said body and extending through said nipple so as to be in position for contacting and operating said valve, ports connecting the upper sleeve of said body with the exterior whereby said upper sleeve may operate as apressure chamber for vertically moving said mandrel, and a pin and slot connecting means between said body and mandrel having a portion adapted on one relative position of the mandrel and body toprohibit the mandrel being lowered sufiiciently to open said valves, *having a further portion adapted to permit the mandrel to be lowered relative to the body sufficient to open the valves, and having a further portion for locking the -mandrel and body in the valve open position.

8. An apparatus for testing a well hole when connected with a packer and a string of pipe,

said apparatus comprising a body provided in its lower portion with a normally closedvalve open the valves, and means forming in the upper portion of the body a chamber communicating with the exterior fluid of the well for elevating the mandrel relative to the body.

9. An apparatus for testing oil wells when connectedwith a string of pipe and packer, includ-v ing a body carrying at its lower portion a normally closed valve, 9. mandrel having an enlarged piston forming portion at its upper end' re-- ciprocally mounted within said body, said mandrel having a hollow reduced contact said valve forming a pressure portion and adapted for opening the same, means portion or said'mandrel to permit the fluid from 5 the well to elevate piston, an inter] the mandrel relative to the Ocking means between said chamber under the piston body and mandrel operative in one position to prohibit the lowering of the mandrel relative to'the body so as to open the valve and operative from another position to permit the mandreito be lowered sumciently to open said valve.

' ERLE P. HALLIBURTON. 

